Tips and Tricks for Festival Season You Need to Know
May has officially arrived and with it comes the festival season, with heavy hitters such as Radio One’s Big Weekend, Slam Dunk and Parklife kicking things off.
There’s nothing like the atmosphere at a festival, whether you’re singing along to an acoustic set or rocking out to some heavy metal, it’s bound to feel electric. The secret to having a good time is being prepared! We have created a festival guide for first-timers full of tips and tricks and what to bring. This guide is probably best for day ticket holders but can apply to camping festivals too!
Scroll for festival tips…
Check the website
First things first, all festivals should have the following facilities:
- Toilets
- Drinking water
- Washing water
- Information points
- Shops
- Food and drink outlets
- A medical team
- A welfare team
If you check your festival’s website all the facilities will be listed there, as well as information concerning travel, parking, tickets etc. It may sound obvious but it’s worth checking out!
Sanitiser and wet wipes
Festivals aren’t known for their cleanliness! Soap and hand sanitiser will quickly run out and you don't want to be left without; make sure to pack an emergency bottle. Baby wipes aren’t essential for a day festival, but if it’s muddy it’s worth bringing them to wipe yourself down before getting in the car/ travelling back; or worse if you slip over mid-day. It can be worth bringing some toilet roll too, as this also runs out fast!
Preparing for weather conditions
The weather can be unpredictable and hard to plan for. If this guide focused on camping festivals we would advise packing for all weather conditions, but a day trip can be harder to navigate. There’s no tent to run back to and get changed and you can’t nip home and grab a jacket! Although last minute, our suggestion would be to check the weather forecast on the day or night before and then choose/finalise your outfit. Make sure to bring with you a waterproof jacket or poncho and sun cream. It may not seem sunny but being exposed to UV all day can be damaging and nobody wants sunburn, or worse, sunstroke at a festival.
Just a reminder, if your festival goes on into the night a lightweight jacket will keep you warm and is handy to bring even if it’s not forecast to rain!
Figure out a schedule
To make the most of your day and see all the artists you’re looking forward to, you must have a plan of action. Most festivals are big places, and it takes time to get from stage to stage, which is why it is essential to have a note of timings and locations. This information should be on the festival’s website and easy to find.
Pack a portable charger
Festivals are long days often finishing past midnight and the last thing you need is a dead phone. It’s important to keep it charged for a few reasons: electronic tickets, apple pay, QR codes, staying in touch with friends if you separate, taking photos and videos and if you’re driving, satnav. Not forgetting your festival plan with times and locations noted down! Our phones are like an extension of us, and you can feel panicked and lost without it so skip the drama and pack a portable charger. If you do end up forgetting one don’t worry, most big festivals have charging stations, but they can be expensive and mean you’re left without a phone for an hour.
Stay Hydrated
Most festivals allow small plastic water bottles that can be filled up at free drinking water stations to help you stay hydrated throughout the day. If you’d rather not bring your own, be sure to purchase a bottle of water during the day. Heat stroke is no joke!
Also make sure to eat! Not only is it important to keep your energy up but the food stalls at festivals are often second to none, serving delicious cuisines from all over the world!
Pack light
Most festivals only allow small bags to be taken into the arena and will confiscate anything bigger than an A4 piece of paper. Something to keep in mind! This leaves you with no choice but to pack light. Try and stick to essentials only, it’s an intense day with lots of physical activity and you don’t want to be lugging a heavy bag around.
Choose your footwear wisely
Making a fashion statement at a festival isn’t out of the ordinary. Many want to dress up and embrace different trends for the day, but the most important thing is that the shoes you pick are comfortable. As mentioned above, festivals are big places and require a lot of walking to get from stage to stage never mind, from the car park to the entrance gate. Not only will you be doing a lot of walking, but dancing too – in fact unless it’s dry, you’ll be lucky if you get to sit down.
Fortunately for you we have a range of stylish yet comfortable footwear that cushion your every step – perfect for festival season. We have listed our favourite styles below for dry/ mud free conditions.
Keystone Trainers
Metallic accents make for an on-trend style with premium cushioning for day-long comfort.
Buford Biker Boots
A fashion forward style with a grungy edge, this pair are best for cooler days. Cleated soles support underfoot and inject additional style.
Wemo Trainers
Premium leather uppers decorated with contrast metallic panels make the Wemo a stand out pair. Fashion meets functionality with their dual fastenings to keep feet secure all day.
Serve Biker Boots
Take on the festival in style without compromising comfort.
We hope you found this helpful and have a great time at the festival!
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